Authors:Ran Huang; Xinxin Zhai; Cesunica E. Ivey; Mariel D. Friberg; Xuefei Hu; Yang Liu; Qian Di; Joel Schwartz; James A. Mulholland; Armistead G. RussellPages: 11 - 22Abstract: In order to generate air-pollutant exposure fields for health studies, a data fusion (DF) approach is developed that combines observations from ambient monitors and simulated data from the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. These resulting fields capture the spatiotemporal information provided by the air quality model, as well as the finer temporal scale variations from the pollutant observations and decrease model biases. Here, the approach is applied to develop daily concentration fields for PM2.5 total mass, five major particulate species (OC, EC, SO4 2−, NO3 −, and NH4 +), and three gaseous pollutants (CO, NO x , and NO2) from 2006 to 2008 over North Carolina (USA). Several data withholding methods are then conducted to evaluate the data fusion method, and the results suggest that typical approaches may overestimate the ability of spatiotemporal estimation methods to capture pollutant concentrations in areas with limited or no monitors. The results show improvements in capturing spatial and temporal variability compared with CMAQ results. Evaluation tests for PM2.5 led to an R 2 of 0.95 (no withholding) and 0.82 when using 10% random data withholding. If spatially based data withholding is used, the R 2 is 0.73. Comparisons of DF-developed PM2.5 total mass concentration with the spatiotemporal fields derived from two other methods (both use satellite aerosol optical depth (AOD) data) find that, in this case, the data fusion fields have slightly less overall error, with an RMSE of 1.28 compared with 3.06 μg/m3 (two-stage statistical model) and 2.74 (neural network-based hybrid model). Applying the Integrated Mobile Source Indicator (IMSI) method shows that the data fusion fields can be used to estimate mobile source impacts. Overall, the growing availability of chemically detailed air quality model fields and the accuracy of the DF field, suggest that this approach is better able to provide spatiotemporal pollutant fields for gaseous and speciated particulate pollutants for health and planning studies.PubDate: 2018-01-01DOI: 10.1007/s11869-017-0511-yIssue No:Vol. 11, No. 1 (2018)

Authors:Qutu Jiang; George ChristakosPages: 23 - 33Abstract: The accurate and informative space-time mapping of air pollutants is a crucial component of many human exposure studies. In the present work, space-time maps of daily distributions of PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations were generated in the severely polluted northern China region using the Bayesian maximum entropy (BME) method. This method can incorporate hard PM2.5 and NO2 data (obtained at ground-level monitoring sites), and various kinds of soft (uncertain) data, including satellite data processed in terms of machine learning techniques, meteorological variables, and geographical predictors. The BME maps of space-time PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations over northern China generated during the winter season (when severe haze episodes occur frequently) were realistic and informative. As regards their numerical accuracy, for the space-time PM2.5 estimates, the tenfold cross-validation R 2 and the RMSE were, respectively, 0.86 and 14.37 μg/m3; for the space-time NO2 estimates, the R 2 and RMSE values were, respectively, 0.85 and 6.93 μg/m3. Lastly, it was shown that the BME method performed better than the mainstream spatiotemporal ordinary kriging technique in terms of the higher R 2 values of both the predicted PM2.5 and NO2 concentration maps.PubDate: 2018-01-01DOI: 10.1007/s11869-017-0514-8Issue No:Vol. 11, No. 1 (2018)

Authors:Ho Quoc Bang; Vu Hoang Ngoc Khue; Nguyen Thoai Tam; Kristofer LaskoPages: 35 - 47Abstract: Can Tho City has quickly become a modernized and industrialized city undergoing rapid population growth affecting the local environment, especially air quality and human health. In 2015, Can Tho had 1,251,809 inhabitants with a total of 566,593 motorcycles and 15,105 automobiles. There are about 1000 factories in the city. The top polluters are the industries of textile and dyeing, food processing, cement, and steel mill and rice processing. The aims of this research are to (i) conduct a detailed air pollution emission inventory (ii) study the formation of the air pollution plume over the city, and (iii) study different pollution abatement strategies for the city. We employ a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches to conduct air pollution emission inventory, then, the finite volume model-transport and photochemistry mesoscale model is applied for studying the formation of the pollution plume. The results showed that transportation and industrial activities are the two main emission sources responsible for 80% of total NO x , 90% of total SO2, 75% of CO, 60% of total suspended particles, and 60% of non-methane volatile organic compounds. Modeling results showed that the highest average—1 h—of O3 is 206 μg/m3 which is higher than the Vietnam ambient air quality standard. The pollution plume is developed in the northeastern part of the city. Finally, abatement measures were proposed. This is the first comprehensive study on air pollution emissions and air quality modeling in the Mekong Delta, yielding insight to support government authorities to promulgate plans and actions to reduce emissions, protecting human health and the environment while leading towards sustainable development.PubDate: 2018-01-01DOI: 10.1007/s11869-017-0512-xIssue No:Vol. 11, No. 1 (2018)

Authors:Alexandra Monteiro; Sónia Gouveia; Manuel Scotto; Sandra Sorte; Carla Gama; Vorne L. Gianelle; Cristina Colombi; Célia AlvesPages: 61 - 68Abstract: The present study aims to investigate the role/contribution of residential combustion (using levoglucosan as a tracer of biomass combustion) during PM10 episode days registered over the Porto urban area (Portugal), in order to support air quality plans that need to be developed for this particular region. The levoglucosan and PM10 concentration values, together with the meteorological conditions (namely temperature), measured during an experimental field campaign performed in 2013, were used in this study. To this end, a wavelet-based approach is applied to (a) better quantify the coherence and dependency of these variables and (b) assess the strength of the connection between the two pollutants species (PM and levoglucosan) at different time scales. Results evidenced a high coherence/dependency between PM10 and levoglucosan values for the episodes selected (periods with exceedances of the PM10 limit values), suggesting the contribution of biomass combustion sources. The highest coherence (normalised covariance) is observed for the winter episodes and time periods of 5–10 days, which is related to the duration of the episodes selected. The summertime episode, which exhibits a negligible observed correlation between temperature and levoglucosan, is explained by the influence of forest fires that occurred within this period and region.PubDate: 2018-01-01DOI: 10.1007/s11869-017-0521-9Issue No:Vol. 11, No. 1 (2018)

Authors:Stefania Ghigo; on behalf of the MED HISS Study group; Stefano Bande; Luisella Ciancarella; Mihaela Mircea; Antonio Piersanti; Gaia Righini; José María Baldasano; Xavier Basagaña; Ennio CadumPages: 69 - 82Abstract: A growing health concern, due to poor air quality, recently led to an increased number of studies regarding air pollution effects on public health. Consequently, close attention is paid to estimation methods of exposure to atmospheric pollutants. This paper aims to meet a specific requirement of epidemiological researchers, that is providing annual air pollution maps at municipality scale for health impact assessment purposes on national basis. Firstly, data fusion through kriging with external drift is implemented, combining pollution data from two different sources, models and measurements, in order to improve the spatial distribution of surface concentrations at grid level. Then, the assimilated data of air pollution are upscaled, so as to obtain concentrations at municipality level. This methodology was applied to Italy and Spain (in Spain, only the second step was carried out since the modeled concentration already included an assimilation procedure). In both countries, for each municipality, an estimate of the concentration value for atmospheric pollutants of major concern for human health (PM10 and NO2) was provided, offering more relevant information from a surveillance point of view.PubDate: 2018-01-01DOI: 10.1007/s11869-017-0520-xIssue No:Vol. 11, No. 1 (2018)

Authors:Mary Lynam; J. Timothy Dvonch; James Barres; Kevin PercyPages: 83 - 93Abstract: Event-based wet deposition of mercury, Hg, was collected in a study from 2010 to 2012 at the AMS 6 site 30 km from the nearest oil sands industrial facilities in Fort McMurray, AB, Canada. For the entire study period (21 months), volume weighted mean, VWM, concentration was 11.2 ng L−1 while total Hg wet deposition was 2.3 μg m−2. Mercury enrichment factors ranged from 10 to 5419 in rainfall, 45–599 in mixed precipitation and 73–266 in snowfall samples. This suggests that emissions from local anthropogenic sources of mercury were available for scavenging especially in rainfall. During a 3-day period in June 2011, there was a 5 to 24-fold increase in mercury enrichment in rainfall samples compared to previous samples. Meteorological analysis during this period provides evidence that mercury containing emissions in smoke from forest fires were transported by winds and subsequently deposited in rainfall received at the sampling site thereby causing enrichment. The magnitude of mercury wet deposition at the AMS 6 site was one of the lowest observed fluxes compared to measurements made elsewhere in the United States and Canada, most likely limited by the low precipitation depths that occurred at this semi-arid location. The reduced wet deposition suggests that mercury dry deposition may be significant in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, AOSR, and should be addressed in future studies.PubDate: 2018-01-01DOI: 10.1007/s11869-017-0524-6Issue No:Vol. 11, No. 1 (2018)

Authors:Yong Xu; Qi Ying; Jianlin Hu; Yuan Gao; Yang Yang; Dexiang Wang; Hongliang ZhangPages: 95 - 109Abstract: Numerous studies have investigated air pollution in severely polluted plains, but the characteristics of pollutants are not well understood in other terrain regions. In this study, air pollution characteristics were analyzed in three typical terrain regions (plateau, plain, and mountain regions) in Shaanxi, based on hourly ambient monitoring of particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and less than 10 μm (PM10), CO, SO2, NO2, and O3 in 2015. PM2.5 and PM10 were the dominant pollutants in three regions, and their annual concentrations exceeded the Grade II standards by 9.4–68.6 and 6.0–73.9%, respectively. PM2.5, PM10, CO, SO2, and NO2 concentrations had similar seasonal trends with highest values in winter and lowest values in summer, whereas O3 concentrations exhibited the opposite trend. Guanzhong Plain had higher PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and SO2 concentrations but lower CO, 1-h peak O3, and 8-h peak O3 (8 h-O3) compared to other regions. PM2.5, PM10, and 8 h-O3 were the three main dominant pollutants. The nonattainment rate was highest in winter and lowest in summer or autumn. Pollution also exhibited synergy, especially in the plateau region and Guanzhong Plain. PM2.5 was significantly correlated with PM10. NO2 and SO2 were positively correlated with PM2.5 and PM10, while 8 h-O3 generally had significant negative correlations with other pollutants, especially in the winter. These results provide a comprehensive understanding of pollution status in the three typical terrain regions in Shaanxi and are helpful for improving air quality.PubDate: 2018-01-01DOI: 10.1007/s11869-017-0523-7Issue No:Vol. 11, No. 1 (2018)

Authors:Raúl G. E. Morales S.; Richard Toro A.; Luis Morales; Manuel A. Leiva G.Pages: 111 - 121Abstract: Landfill fires are relatively frequent incidents that can result in severe environmental impacts. On the morning of January 15, 2016, a fire occurred at the Santa Marta landfill (Lf) in the metropolitan area of Santiago (SMA), Chile. The fire triggered public alarm. In the present work, the impact of the landfill fire on the air quality of the SMA and the possible impacts on human health are analyzed. According to the information collected, the fire began after a collapse in the landfill on January 15, 2016. The fire could not be controlled by the Lf operating company, and authorities acted late in responding. The results revealed that at the focal point of the fire, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) reached concentration levels on the order of 1000 μg m−3. Three days after the start of the fire, hourly PM2.5 concentration levels above 200 μg m−3 were recorded, at a distance approximately 20 km northeast of where the fire occurred. The PM2.5 concentration levels recommended for the protection of the health of vulnerable persons were subsequently exceeded. These results suggest that a preventive measure should have been the evacuation of the most pollution-sensitive population. An inappropriate management of the emergency was demonstrated. Legislation should be improved by stipulating which sanitary Lfs should be equipped with firefighting equipment. Territorial planning should be improved by considering geographic and meteorological aspects.PubDate: 2018-01-01DOI: 10.1007/s11869-017-0522-8Issue No:Vol. 11, No. 1 (2018)

Authors:Yuwen Niu; Xinling Li; Jingjiao Pu; Zhen HuangAbstract: We collected 43 valid rainwater samples at Lin’an, a rural site in eastern China, between March 2014 and February 2015. We measured the concentrations of seven low molecular weight water-soluble organic acids using ion chromatography with the elution gradient method. We detected formic, acetic, oxalic, succinic, glutaric, malonic, and methanesulfonic acid in at least 70% of all samples, reflecting the ubiquity of these acids in the precipitation of Lin’an. The total concentration of these organic acids in individual samples was between 2.63 and 114.77 μeq L−1 (mean 16.64 μeq L−1). Formic, acetic, and oxalic acid were the most abundant organic acids in the rainwater samples, with volume-weighted mean concentrations of 9.58, 3.89, and 2.01 μeq L−1, respectively; these three acids accounted for 93% of the total mean organic acid concentration. The average contribution of organic acids to precipitation total free acidity was 13.71% in Lin’an, which was lower than has been recorded in other rural and mountainous areas of southwestern China, but much higher than has been recorded in some urban and semi-urban areas. The mean ratio of formic to acetic acid in rainwater was 2.40, and the mean ratio of malonic and succinic acid in rainwater was 0.62. These ratios indicated that, in Lin’an, formic and acetic acid mainly originated from primary biogenic sources, but malonic and glutaric acid mainly originated from motor vehicle emissions. With the exception of oxalic acid, the volume-weighted mean concentrations of other organic acids and total organic acids in the growing season (summer and spring) were higher than those in non-growing season (autumn and winter), suggesting that vegetation around the Lin’an sampling site was an important source of atmospheric organic acids. As the volume-weighted mean concentration of oxalic acid was higher during the non-growing season, this may indicate that aerosolized oxalic acid was less well diluted due to less rainfall during the drier non-growing season.PubDate: 2018-02-01DOI: 10.1007/s11869-018-0553-9

Authors:Dalia Wagdi; Khaled Tarabieh; Mohamed Nagib Abou ZeidAbstract: The purpose of this study is to document the potential impacts on indoor air quality associated with different types of building materials (wall and floor finishes) through the development of an Indoor Air Quality index. The study first identifies pollutant sources and their corresponding health impacts due to short-term and long-term exposures. The study also quantifies levels of certain pollutants within a steady-state controlled environment, comparing the results of this study with previous studies conducted in different regions. It also proposes an IAQ index as an assessment tool which can be utilized preoccupancy. The field studies were conducted in residential buildings during January and February in Cairo to monitor volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde (HCHO), ammonia (NH3), radon gas, and particulate matter (PM). The indoor air was monitored in nine locations: four during the construction process and five following completion of construction. For this investigation, three rooms under construction within a Cairene building site were utilized to test the finishing materials. Chemical analysis and direct reading devices were used for air sampling and monitoring. The results revealed that the concentration of some pollutants decreased within the first year of construction, while others remained above target limits. The results of this study offer recommendations for engineers regarding the selection of appropriate materials through the implementation of source control strategies and an IAQ index which can be used as an assessment tool to ensure that the Indoor Air Quality meets recommended standards. Based on the conclusions and limitations of this study, recommendations for future work are documented such as the screening of materials and monitoring of Indoor Air Quality.PubDate: 2018-01-26DOI: 10.1007/s11869-018-0551-y

Authors:Zhaowen Qiu; Xiaoqin Xu; Wenyue Liu; Xiaoxia LiAbstract: To investigate the influence of grade separations on the concentration dynamics of particulate matter (PM) and pedestrian PM exposure rate, PM mass concentrations (PMCs) at and around a typical grade separation were measured. Using a statistical fitting method, the horizontal variation and frequency distributions for PMCs at the entrance and exit of a grade separation were investigated. The pedestrian exposure around the grade separation was quantified in terms of respiratory deposition dose (RDD) rates. The results of the case study showed that the average mass concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 at the exit of the underpass were found to be about 19, 9, and 4% higher than those at the entrance, and the concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 in the underpass were higher compared with those on the overpass. The average mass concentrations of PM10 (136 μg m−3), PM2.5 (67 μg m−3), and PM1 (44 μg m−3) in the underpass exceeded those on the overpass by about 14, 8, and 7%, respectively. Further analysis of the underpass revealed that all three types of PMCs decayed exponentially with increasing distance from the exit. However, for the entrance, as the distance from the entrance increased, PMCs began to drop slightly, and then rose to the maximum near the ramp. Based on the frequency histograms and corresponding fitted curves at the entrance and exit of the underpass, the rate of violation of ambient PM concentrations was assessed. The total respiratory deposition dose (RDD) rates of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 around the grade separation were roughly 3.4, 2.8, and 2.5 times higher than those of the background, respectively. The findings of this study are a step toward understanding more environmentally friendly grade-separation design strategies.PubDate: 2018-01-23DOI: 10.1007/s11869-018-0548-6

Authors:Carla Gama; Alexandra Monteiro; Casimiro Pio; Ana Isabel Miranda; José María Baldasano; Oxana TchepelAbstract: Air quality management regarding PM concentrations in the atmosphere is a complex problem to tackle. In this paper, we aim to characterize the temporal patterns and trends of aerosol background levels over Portugal. Hourly data from the national air quality monitoring network, gathered from 2007 to 2016, is analyzed using statistical methods. Data from 20 monitoring stations was processed to prepare datasets with different time scales, and results were grouped by their type of surrounding area (urban, suburban, or rural). Urban and suburban background sites are characterized by strong seasonal patterns, with higher monthly mean concentrations in winter than in summer. In contrast, rural background PM10 concentrations are highest during August and September. This study suggests that urban background concentrations are significantly influenced by anthropogenic non-combustion sources, which contribute to the coarser aerosol fraction (PMc). PMc is about 3 μg m−3 higher during weekdays than during Sundays, at urban sites. However, there is no clear relationship between the value of the PM2.5/PMc ratio and the type of monitoring station. During the 10-year period of study, a decrease of 1.83, 3.58, and 4.89%/year was registered in PM10 concentrations at Portuguese rural, urban, and suburban areas, respectively. Despite the higher decrease at suburban monitoring stations, those sites present the highest 10-year mean PM10 concentrations. This work provides an import insight on temporal variations of PM10, PM2.5, and PMc concentrations over Portugal and summarizes trends through the last decade, contributing to the discussion on sources and processes influencing those concentrations.PubDate: 2018-01-18DOI: 10.1007/s11869-018-0546-8

Authors:Anne SteinemannAbstract: Common in society, fragranced consumer products such as cleaning supplies and air fresheners are a primary source of volatile emissions that contribute to pollutants indoors and to personal exposure. Further, fragranced products have been associated with adverse health effects. This study investigates the sources of emissions, human exposures, and health and societal impacts from fragranced consumer products in the United Kingdom (UK). It examines the prevalence and types of fragranced product use, associated health effects, exposure situations, awareness of product emissions, and preferences for fragrance-free policies and indoor environments. Using a nationally representative population sample (n = 1100), data were collected in June 2016 using an online survey of adults in the UK, comprising England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Across the UK population, 27.8% report health problems, such as migraine headaches (8.4%) and asthma attacks (6.8%), when exposed to fragranced products. Yet 99.3% of the population are exposed to fragranced products at least once a week. When given a choice, more people would prefer that workplaces, health care facilities and professionals, hotels, and airplanes were fragrance-free rather than fragranced. Although fragranced products, even ones called green and organic, can emit potentially hazardous yet undisclosed pollutants, 75.0% of the population were not aware of this, and more than half would stop using their product if they knew it emitted such pollutants. This study provides important evidence that the UK population is regularly exposed to fragranced products, that these exposures are associated with adverse and often serious health effects, and that the public is largely unaware of their potential exposures. While more research is needed, reducing exposure to fragranced products, such as through fragrance-free policies, can provide an immediate step to reduce health risks and improve air quality.PubDate: 2018-01-18DOI: 10.1007/s11869-018-0550-z

Authors:Héctor Jorquera; Ana María Villalobos; Francisco BarrazaAbstract: On March 24–26, 2015, the Chilean city of Copiapó (27° 22′ S, 70° 20′ W), located in the hyperarid Atacama Desert, suffered an intense flooding brought by an extreme, unique rainfall event with a 35-year record of daily precipitation. A receptor model (positive matrix factorization, version 5) analysis, applied to ambient PM10 chemical speciation from three short-term sampling campaigns, resolved four sources: crustal/road dust, sea salt, secondary sulfates, and emissions from Paipote copper smelter located 8 km east of Copiapó. Wind trajectories computed with US NOAA’s Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT) supported the above source identification and explained variability in source contributions. It was found that crustal/road dust increased 50 μg/m3, in April 8–10, 2015, as compared with values in November 2014 and October–November 2015, respectively. This was the dominant PM10 source after the flooding and before debris were cleaned up, being on order of magnitude higher that the other source contributions. The Paipote copper smelter contributed with primary PM10 emissions and secondary sulfates; this combined contribution averaged 11.8 μg/m3. Sea salt contributions contributed an average of 3.3 μg/m3. In normal conditions, crustal/road dust averaged 2.9 μg/m3, but the other resolved sources also contributed with crustal elements as their emissions are transported by winds to Copiapó. The positive matrix factorization solution included an unresolved concentration of 7.4 μg/m3. The small number of samples and the lack of measurements of nitrate, ammonia, and organic and elemental carbon may explain this result. Hence, sources such as secondary nitrates and combustion sources plus fugitive dust from sources surrounding Copiapó might be included in that unresolved concentration.PubDate: 2018-01-17DOI: 10.1007/s11869-018-0549-5

Authors:Roberto E. Rojano; Carlos A. Manzano; Richard Toro; Raul G. E. Morales; Gloria Restrepo; Manuel A. LeivaAbstract: This study was designed to evaluate the atmospheric total suspended particle (TSP) and particulate matter (PM10) concentrations and temporal variability in one of the world’s largest open-pit coal mines (El Cerrejon) located in northeast Colombia, during 2012–2016. The results showed overall average TSP and PM10 concentrations of 86 μg m−3 (CI95% 84–88 μg m−3) and 34 μg m−3 (CI95% 33–35 μg m−3), respectively, with the highest concentrations between March and August each year. A time trend analysis of the results revealed that PM10 concentrations in particular have significantly increased between 6.2 and 7.7% per year (CI95% 1.2–12.8% year−1) in several of the monitoring stations. Meteorological parameters were also evaluated. It was observed that NE winds with speeds above 2 m s−1 were significantly correlated with an increase in the concentration of PM10 for selected downwind sites, which suggested that coal mining operations are an important source of atmospheric PM in the area. Regional long-range atmospheric transport scenarios showed potential effects on neighboring municipalities and countries within 72-h transportation events. These highlighted the need to develop new strategies to control the emissions of PM from the local mining industry to comply with local and international guidelines and regulations, particularly when industrial expansion is planned for the near future and relatively large population centers are in the area, of which a high proportion belong to indigenous populations.PubDate: 2018-01-12DOI: 10.1007/s11869-017-0542-4

Authors:Lucio Lucadamo; Anna Corapi; Luana GalloAbstract: Ecophysiological biomarkers and atmospheric contamination due to glyphosate and trace elements were monitored in a southern Italian agricultural district by means of transplanted thalli of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea. Glyphosate exhibited a significant geographical pattern (east side > west side) and a drift source area equal to 32% of the monitoring sites. Moreover, based on the surface area of the study area and a wind quantitative relationship (WQR) with glyphosate thalli concentrations, our data support the idea that pesticide drift extends over an area of several square kilometers. Of the eight elements preliminarily classified as enriched, four were considered prevalently of geogenic origin (Al, Ti, Ni, Co) and four of anthropogenic origin (Cu, Mn, Sn, Sb), although only Sb and Cu passed rigorous statistical testing supporting a real difference from pre-exposure levels. The contribution of local sources was evaluated based on the relative increase of Cu, Mn, Sb, and Sn versus Ti. Cu and Mn were associated mainly with a biomass power plant (BPP), with Cu showing extremely high levels of contamination involving 20% of the monitoring sites. Sb and Sn were associated with spatial variation of the traffic rate. The mycobiont and photobiont showed an evident zonation of the levels of their physiological parameters, with oxidative stress being significantly associated with both the biomass power plant and Cu/Ti. Our results suggest that croplands are potentially exposed to various hazards: over-exposure to pesticides due to drift processes, diffuse low traffic levels promoting Sb enrichment, and acute Cu pollution affected by BPP emissions.PubDate: 2018-01-10DOI: 10.1007/s11869-018-0547-7

Authors:Jia Coco Liu; Roger D. PengAbstract: Despite substantial improvements in ambient air quality in the past decades, ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) remain as concerns. As these pollutants exist as mixtures in ambient environments, some combinations of these pollutants may be more harmful to human health than other combinations. Identifying harmful pollutant mixtures can help develop multi-pollutant control strategies to better protect health. Current methods exhibit limitations in identifying harmful mixtures. We aim to identify harmful compositions of three-pollutant mixtures in 85 US counties during 1999–2010. We developed a new method called PANCAKE to quantify O3-NO2-PM2.5 mixtures. O3-NO2-PM2.5 mixtures are categorized into 27 composition types based on combinations of different O3, NO2, and PM2.5 levels. We identified harmful compositions by estimating the effect of each composition of O3-NO2-PM2.5 mixture compared to the reference composition on cardiovascular admissions among Medicare patients. We found that a mixture with relatively low levels of some pollutants combined with relatively high levels of other pollutants can be equally or more harmful than a mixture with high levels of all pollutants. Eight out of the 27 composition types, often with NO2 levels > 17.3 ppb and PM2.5 levels > 8.8 μg/m3 combined with any levels of O3, were associated with significantly increased cardiovascular admission rates compared to the reference composition. These harmful compositions overall occurred in about 40–50% of days in winter, metropolitan areas, or the East North Central region. Mixture composition plays an important role in determining health risks and may be worth considering when developing air pollution control strategies.PubDate: 2018-01-06DOI: 10.1007/s11869-017-0544-2

Authors:Anne SteinemannAbstract: Fragranced consumer products, such as cleaning supplies, air fresheners, and personal care products, can emit a range of air pollutants and trigger adverse health effects. This study investigates the prevalence and types of effects of fragranced products on asthmatics in the American population. Using a nationally representative sample (n = 1137), data were collected with an on-line survey of adults in the USA, of which 26.8% responded as being medically diagnosed with asthma or an asthma-like condition. Results indicate that 64.3% of asthmatics report one or more types of adverse health effects from fragranced products, including respiratory problems (43.3%), migraine headaches (28.2%), and asthma attacks (27.9%). Overall, asthmatics were more likely to experience adverse health effects from fragranced products than non-asthmatics (prevalence odds ratio [POR] 5.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.34–7.64). In particular, 41.0% of asthmatics report health problems from air fresheners or deodorizers, 28.9% from scented laundry products coming from a dryer vent, 42.3% from being in a room cleaned with scented products, and 46.2% from being near someone wearing a fragranced product. Of these effects, 62.8% would be considered disabling under the definition of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Yet 99.3% of asthmatics are exposed to fragranced products at least once a week. Also, 36.7% cannot use a public restroom if it has an air freshener or deodorizer, and 39.7% would enter a business but then leave as quickly as possible due to air fresheners or some fragranced product. Further, 35.4% of asthmatics have lost workdays or a job, in the past year, due to fragranced product exposure in the workplace. More than twice as many asthmatics would prefer that workplaces, health care facilities and health care professionals, hotels, and airplanes were fragrance-free rather than fragranced. Results from this study point to relatively simple and cost-effective ways to reduce exposure to air pollutants and health risks for asthmatics by reducing their exposure to fragranced products.PubDate: 2017-12-11DOI: 10.1007/s11869-017-0536-2